Frequent Business Traveler » ThinkPad

Lenovo unveils ThinkPad X1 Hybrid and Ultrabook

Cody Burke — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 18:47:44 +0000

Lenovo announced the ThinkPad X1 Hybrid laptop (pictured), as well as its first business-focused ThinkPad ultrabook.

The ThinkPad X1 Hybrid laptop is a 13.3″ laptop that features a battery-saving Instant Media Mode (IMM) for simple media tasks and Web surfing. When IMM is activated, the laptop switches over to a separate Qualcomm dual core processor and a Linux-based operating system with up to 16GB of memory. Using IMM extends the battery life and gives the X1 Hybrid similar functionality to a smartphone.

When in normal mode, the laptop features a choice of Intel Core i3, i5, or i7 processors, optional mobile broadband, Gorilla Glass, HD Web camera, HDMI port, and Intel Wireless Display Technology. Other features include Intel vPro security, encrypted hard drive with remote management, and fingerprint reader.

The X1 Hybrid is thin at 0.6 inches (15 mm) and weighs less than four pounds (1.8 kg).

Lenovo also announced the ThinkPad T430u, its entry into the lightweight and slim profile ultrabook market. The new 14″ business-focused ultrabook is .8″ (20 mm) thick and weighs 4 lbs. (1.8 kg). Features include choice of Intel Core processors and Intel integrated or Nvidia graphics, SSD storage or up to 1 TB of hard drive storage, and up to six hours of batter life.

Rosewood Sand Hill, Menlo Park, California – Hotel Review

Jonathan Spira — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 17:37:50 +0000

With a series of speaking engagements for my new book on Information Overload planned in Silicon Valley, a colleague recommended the Rosewood Sand Hill and told me it would be different. His remark was a tremendous understatement. I did expect a nice hotel – what I didn’t expect was an amazing resort environment that transported me at the end of each day from the hustle and bustle of Silicon Valley to a 16-acre tropical hideaway, never mind the fact that it is located in the heart of the valley and minutes from the campus of Stanford University.

THE ROOM

My Deluxe Room had a king-sized bed, a comfortable day bed, a Nespresso coffee maker, an amazing walk-in closet (I took notes in anticipation of redesigning mine the very same way), a bathroom with separate tub and shower with intricate tile work on the shower walk (again, I made notes and took photos for a future renovation project at home),

The bed was extremely comfortable and I woke up each morning refreshed and ready for my various speaking engagements.

The hotel provides eco-friendly Ohné bath products in refillable containers, a very green alternative to using thousands of tiny plastic containers in guest rooms.

On the night table was a controller for lights in the room, with buttons such as “Lamps On/Off,” “Ceiling On/Off,” and “Bedroom On/Off” leaving no doubt as to what one would get. I was also able to control the lights from the TV remote with on screen options including light settings for watching a movie and “evening.”

Climate controls were equally well marked and easy to use.

Despite the high-tech tools, I had to stop and marvel at the simple, battery-operated Seiko alarm clock, with an analog dial that left no doubt as to when and if the alarm was set.

Clearly, a lot of thought was given to the guest experience here.

As much as I liked the room and its amenities, it was the terrace that I really loved. It overlooked the pool and sitting there transported me to a far-off resort that was hours, not minutes, from Palo Alto.

ROAD WARRIOR SUPPORT

The elegant wooden writing desk was large enough for work requirements, although I admittedly preferred to take the ThinkPad or iPad out to the terrace to work instead. Two desktop-level outlets were on the wall next to the desk and there were other outlets easily accessible as well.

Internet, $12.99 per day for up to two devices (such as laptop and Apple iPad, was fast and I had no difficulties connecting from anywhere on the property.

The desk chair was the only weak link; the hotel should consider more ergonomic desk chairs to help guests avoid back strain.

Sense spa is part of the 17,000-square-foot spa and fitness center. Within its 13 treatment rooms it offers a variety of services, many West Coast inspired. My Gold Rush Renewal treatment started with an all-natural anti-oxidant and vitamin rich sugar scrub infused with 24-karat gold, raw sugar, and fruit extracts followed by a full-body massage using golden shea body butter infused with botanical extracts. I wonder if this was popular among prospectors in the olden days.

Click here to continue to Page 2 – Dining and Virtual Tours

Lufthansa Frankfurt to New York (JFK) First Class Flight 400 – Review

Jonathan Spira — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 21:44:57 +0000

Frankfurt Airport is by far Germany’s busiest transportation hub and reportedly serves more international destinations than any other airport in the world. It is also a major hub for Lufthansa Airlines, which is one of just a few select airlines that fly the double-decker Airbus A380, the world’s largest airliner. While Lufthansa does fly the A380 from Frankfurt to New York, my flight was on an Airbus A340.

Lufthansa is in the midst of installing new first-class seats in its long-haul aircraft. My plane had the older but still very comfortable seating but the in-flight service is the same regardless.

BOARDING

Since I was coming off a connecting flight from Munich with a short connection time, I immediately proceeded to my departure gate where I was the last passenger to arrive. The gate agent greeted me warmly and knew my name before I handed over my boarding pass.   “Mr. Spira, come with me please,” she said, leading me down the jetway and escorting me into the first class cabin, which was not very full.

The purser welcomed me on board and told me I could sit virtually anywhere I wanted in the cabin so I chose seat 1A, which is my usual choice on most flights.

I settled in and was offered a pre-departure beverage (I chose mineral water), which was accompanied by macadamia nuts. I was also given a Bogner amenity kit that included a sweater, slippers, eyeshades, a plastic comb and brush, La Mer lip balm and moisturizing cream, and a toothbrush and toothpaste.

SEAT/BED COMFORT

Since this was a daytime flight, I didn’t plan to sleep very much (and given the menu, it was good that I arrived hungry).   I did take a brief nap and a few presses of the seat controller resulted in a very comfortable 78” bed.   For sitting up and doing work, as well as for dining, the comfort and support were excellent.

Lufthansa Media World, the in-flight entertainment system, includes a wide variety of movies, music, radio programs, and games as well as a flight map showing current position. I had several movies stored on my iPad so I only used the flight map to monitor our progress.

IN-FLIGHT SERVICE

Once we were at our cruising altitude, the friendly cabin crew transformed the cabin into a gourmet restaurant.

An amuse bouche was served first and then my place was set. A red rose (in a glass tube) was placed on the table and it later went into its dedicated holder in the seat.

The wine list included a splendid 2009 “Sempur Vivum” Riesling Spätlese trocken, from the Weingut Mötzenbacker. I enjoyed this wine so much I continued with it for the entire meal.

The menu says “choice” of hors d’oeuvres, but since it’s apparently very difficult to choose between them, each passenger receives four. On the top level of the étagere was mouse of tomatoes and bell pepper with pine nut pesto. In the center, duck foie gras and chicken in aspic (with celery salad and beetroot vinaigrette). On the bottom plate, I found salmon tartare (with lemon confit and fennel salad).   A separate plate with caviar was placed in the center of my tray (garnishes were in a separate dish).

One appetizer was better than the next and the warm breads were a superb accompaniment. My only puzzlement was as to how I was going to even take a single bite of the main course.

Then came the next course, a delicious cream of potato soup, which wasn’t even on the menu.

For the entrée, I had ordered the filet of sole and crayfish that came with tarragon sauce accompanied by tagliatelle and spinach.   This was the only disappointing part of the meal as the fish had very little flavor. The flight attendant offered to bring me something else but I was at that point so full from the appetizers that I declined. Other choices on the menu included a Mehlknödel (flour dumpling) with black salsify, chicken with rosemary sauce and Rösti, and Sauerbraten (marinated pot roast).

A selection of cheeses was offered but I couldn’t eat anymore. Little did I know that I really wasn’t finished and the best was yet to come.

I settled into my seat to do some work on my ThinkPad and listened to music on my Apple iPad.   After two hours of work, I decided it was time for a nap and transformed the seat into a comfortable bed.

Click here to continue to Page 2 – Schwarzwald Special, Arrival, Bottom Line, and Virtual Tours

Samson Meteor Mic – Review

Jonathan Spira — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 17:01:13 +0000

As more and more people strive to create high-quality podcasts and other audio output, the typical microphone found in inexpensive headsets simply doesn’t do the trick nor does it provide the appropriate level of audio quality.

The Samson Meteor Mic is a good looking, high-quality studio microphone that connects to your computer via USB. In appearance, it looks like it’s straight out of a 1950s radio or TV studio.

Setup, well there is no setup. There are no drivers to install and it works instantly on Windows, OS X, and iOS devices. I was up and running on my ThinkPad X301 in just a few seconds.

You can use this to create podcasts as well as with services such as Skype. It has a built-in stereo 1/8-inch headphone jack that provides no-latency monitoring, a built-in windscreen, and a nicely-integrated mute button/volume control with a built-in three-color LED that shows power (blue), mute (amber), and input signal clipping (red).

A built-in tripod unfolds for desktop use but the mic also has a standard 5/8” thread mount so you can attach it to a microphone stand.

The mic itself uses a one-inch (25 mm) diaphragm with a unidirectional cardioid polar pattern (so named because the sensitivity pattern is heart-shaped) that did an excellent job of picking up my voice without any background noise whatsoever.

The mic itself is only 1.92 x 3.9 inches (49 x 100 mm) and weighs only 9.3 ounces (263 g), making it suitable for travel as well (it comes with a soft pouch for this purpose).

I used the Meteor Mic to record audio for the book trailer for Overload! How Too Much Information is Hazardous To Your Organization, my book that’s coming out on May 31. Quality was excellent using the Windows 7 Sound Recorder app.

$99 at amazon.com

Villa Rothschild Kempinski, Königstein, Germany – Hotel Review

Jonathan Spira — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 04:01:22 +0000

In 1949, an unusual gathering took place at the Villa Rothschild. German politicians including Konrad Adenauer, Theodor Heuss, Adolph Schönfelder, and Hermann Strafer gathered to formulate post-war Germany’s fundamental rights laws (Grundrechte).

Today, the hospitality of the villa, originally built in 1894 for Wilhelm Carl von Rothschild, is not limited to world leaders. Indeed, vacationers and business travelers from around the world can enjoy the hotel’s 22 elegant rooms and sprawling park grounds.

THE ROOM

My deluxe room was elegant and exceptionally comfortable. The bed, which seemed larger than a typical king size bed, was not too hard and not too soft. I enjoyed a good night’s sleep, waking up refreshed and ready for the challenges of the day.

A remote-controlled gas fireplace added warmth to the room and the view from the window, facing the park, was magnificent.

ROAD WARRIOR SUPPORT

An elegant wooden writing desk stood in one corner of the room next to the fireplace. The period desk chair was comfortable and provided surprisingly good back support. Lighting throughout the room was excellent for reading and using a computer.

Free wireless Internet access is available throughout the hotel – and it is fast as well. I was able to connect my iPad as well as my ThinkPad without any difficulties whatsoever.

Frankfurt International Airport is only 25 km away and the Villa Rothschild offers a complimentary shuttle in the hotel’s Volkswagen Phaeton sedan. The staff happily drives guests back and forth to the hotel’s sister property, the Falkenstein Grand Kempinski, where guests have access to that hotel’s fitness center and spa.   My massage at the Ascara Spa at the Falkenstein was extremely relaxing. Indeed I only wish I had had more time to spend there.

Click here to continue to Page 2 – Dining and a Virtual Tour of the Villa Rothschild

Laptop or Tablet? Choosing and Buying A New Computer

Paul Riegler — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 20:27:28 +0000

Every day, the line between a tablet and a laptop computer seemingly blurs more and more. If you’re in the market for a new computer right now, what should you get?

Reading a compute magazine or blog today might lead you to think that tablets have fully supplanted laptops, but that’s far from the truth. (Ironically, one would have said the same thing about netbooks two years ago, yet today they are hardly given a second glance.)

A laptop, at least today, is quite different than a tablet and, despite the sex appeal of the latter, it is capable of doing a lot more.

Laptop computers have real keyboards, massive hard drives, plenty of ports, and far more raw computing power than any tablet. They run real applications, not just apps, which while useful don’t always meet one’s business and personal needs.

On the other hand, tablets are lightweight, ultra portable, turn on and off instantly (at least the new iPad 2 does), and can run (in some cases) hundreds of thousands of apps (there are over 60,000 iPad-optimized apps alone). They also have far better battery life. The new Apple iPad 2 (which we reviewed last month) turns on and off instantly with its Smart Cover and has a battery that really lasts for 10 hours. It’s also one-third thinner and 15% lighter than the original iPad.

Blurring the lines further, laptops such as the MacBook Air from Apple and the Windows 7 Samsung Series 9 start almost instantly and have solid-state drives, making them more like tablets. Expect to see operating systems from Microsoft and Apple which make laptops more tablet like in look and feel as well.

For most people, however, tablets are supplementing, not replacing, a laptop (or desktop) computer. They’re great for travel if you don’t have to type very much, good for reading books, magazines, and newspapers, and superb for browsing Web pages. However, when it comes to traditional productivity tools, the lack of a real keyboard and the benefits of a larger display will make the advantage of a laptop computer (even a small one with an 11” display) crystal clear.

Click here to continue to Page 2 -Buying a Tablet and Buying a Laptop

Thin-Pad – The Lenovo ThinkPad X300

Jonathan Spira — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:46:36 +0000

The ThinkPad X300 (left) is far thinner than its ThinkPad brethren.

When IBM sold its PC division to Lenovo back in 2005, I wondered whether the high level of innovation that IBM had pioneered in the PC field (after all, the company invented the modern PC) would continue. My fears, it turns out, were completely unfounded.

Lenovo has not only been a good steward for the IBM product line, which includes ThinkPad notebook computers, but has released machine after machine that outdistance the competition.

When the ThinkPad X300 was released (the current model is the ThinkPad X301), around the same time as Apple’s MacBook Air, I was a bit skeptical.

Until that point, I had scrupulously followed the “bigger is better” principle when it came to laptops. Only primitive computers had smaller screens and footprints. It would be impossible to fit a proper keyboard into a small package (let alone duplicate the touch of the IBM/Lenovo keypad, which traces its origins back to the IBM Selectric typewriter). So I moved up from 12” to 13” to 14” and then finally to 15” screen size, each with more computing power and heft, in the mistaken belief that I was doing the right thing. I even considered moving up to a 17” machine.

In reality, all I was doing was adding more weight to the bag I carried on my shoulder as a frequent business traveler without adding anything else. The X300 weighs only 1.3 kg and it measures less than three-quarters of an inch at its thinnest point.

So back to the X300. When it first came, I didn’t even want to use it but, in order to test it, I realized I had to start somewhere. So I installed my suite of software and took it on a trip. Not bad, I thought. Light, great display, and very fast. In fact, very fast is an understatement – the solid-state drive makes it faster than any computer I have ever used both for start-up and in general use.

The ThinkPad X300 comes with a 13.3” LED backlit display and the aforementioned full-sized keyboard with the handy TrackPoint (which some refer to as the “eraserhead”) pointing device built into the keyboard. With two batteries (both of which, unlike the Mac, are user replaceable), it has a battery life of eight to ten hours (long enough for transoceanic flights), and an ultra-thin built-in DVD burner (the second battery replaces this in the same bay).

What really makes this a game changer, beyond its size, is the variety of connectivity choices including WLAN, GB Ethernet, ultra-wideband/wireless USB, and WiMax, and my current favorite, integrated mobile broadband.

The combination of small footprint and mobile broadband changed my personal work habits (perhaps further blurring the work-life balance but that’s fodder for another time). I found myself taking the ThinkPad with me not only on longer trips but on even the shortest ones. I could easily open it and catch up on work or news (or even, on rare occasions, entertainment) anywhere I went. And my shoulder thanked me as well.

The display is worthy of note: LED backlighting makes the 13.3” display crisp and vivid for images and documents and didn’t have problems outdoors except in direct sun, further contributing to my ability to use the machine anywhere.   Concerning travel and transport, the X300 is constructed with advanced carbon and glass fiber and its Next Generation ThinkPad Roll Cage helped protect the device from the perils of my road warrior lifestyle.

In addition to being small, the X300 is environmentally aware, consuming 25% less energy than its predecessors. It received a favorable rating by the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) for “superior environmental attributes” such as low-voltage processors and LED displays.

The utilities that are included in the ThinkVantage Productivity Center are both useful (they cover maintenance, help, wireless, display, and security) and easy to use although it takes a while to sometimes find the right category for certain topics.

So I admit it – I was wrong. When it comes to laptops, bigger is not better: the ThinkPad X300 is simply better. Try one yourself and see.

–Jonathan B. Spira is the Editor of Executive Road Warrior and Chief Analyst at Basex, a knowledge economy research firm.

In-flight Internet Access: The Return Flight

Jonathan Spira — Thu, 14 May 2009 21:36:26 +0000

After a pleasant (and very fast) drive in a BMW M3 from the Bay Area to Los Angeles and a few days of meetings there, I returned to New York via American Airlines Flight 22. Similar to the outbound flight to San Francisco, once we hit 10,000 feet, I was able to turn on my Lenovo ThinkPad X300 and find several Gogo hotspots.

For most of the flight, I was able to surf the Web, watch videos, read news, send and receive e-mail, and even check the flight’s exact position. I was also able to use my BlackBerry Bold smartphone, including the BlackBerry Instant Messenger (BBM) feature. Everything worked until 75 minutes prior to landing. At that moment, the Internet became inaccessible. The Gogo hotspots were replaced by locked access points labeled “Unknown.” The purser on the flight said that the service goes down from time to time but it usually comes back on its own. This time it didn’t. Aircell, which runs the Gogo network, was unable as of the time of publication to advise what had gone wrong.

American was the first airline to install Aircell’s Gogo in-flight access on its aircraft and it reportedly costs $100,000 per plane to deploy the system. The airlines clearly see this as an investment in both attracting and maintaining business customers and garnering incremental revenue. Other airlines offering the service include Alaska Air, Delta, Southwest, and Virgin America. The rollout is in its early stages so, with the exception of cases such as American’s 767-200 fleet, where all of this type aircraft have the service installed and the routes (e.g. JFK-SFO and JFK-LAX) are predictable, it is difficult to predict on which flights the service will be available.

Despite the hiccup, in-flight Net access is useful to business and leisure traveler alike. If only a tech support plane could have flown over to help us out….

–Jonathan B. Spira is the Editor of Executive Road Warrior and Chief Analyst at Basex, a knowledge economy research firm.

The Last Frontier: In-flight Internet Access, Take 2

Jonathan Spira — Fri, 01 May 2009 18:21:16 +0000

ON BOARD AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT 15, 11:45 A.M. EDT

American Airlines was the first U.S. airline to announce in-flight Internet service for domestic flights. The first (test) phase of the American Airlines Gogo Internet service started in the middle of last year on the company’s fleet of 15 767-200 aircraft, which fly its transcontinental routes.

Recently, the company announced it will expand the service to over 300 domestic aircraft (the service doesn’t work over the Atlantic or Pacific oceans).

I am writing this from American Airlines Flight 15, New York (JFK) to San Francisco (SFO). Until today, I hadn’t had to take a transcon flight since Gogo was launched so I was excited to try out the new service (most of my flying in the past nine months was transatlantic).

The last flight I took with Internet service was back in 2005, when Lufthansa and several other airlines still offered the Boeing Connexion service.

Once we hit 10,000 feet (we’re now at our cruising altitude of 32,000 feet), I turned on my trusty Lenovo ThinkPad X300 and it immediately found several Gogo hotspots. It took just a few minutes to log in and and purchase service for today’s flight (a Gogo representative was handing out 25% discount coupons during boarding, I should mention) and I chatted with customer service about how to use my BlackBerry Bold smartphone on the same account (all I have to do is log off from the laptop and then log in from the Bold). Gogo really goes Gogo really goes.

So far I’ve done a speedtest, which showed a download speed of 1.55 Mbps (double what the Boeing Connexion service was able to offer) and checked e-mail, and read news from several Web sites including the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. The flight attendant has already served warm nuts and drinks so I’m going to relax and enjoy the flight for a little bit and then report again.

ON BOARD AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT 15, 1:32 P.M. EDT

We’re still at 32,000 feet, just crossing over Minneapolis.

Purchasing Internet access for one’s laptop entitles you to log into the Gogo system from your smartphone at no additional charge. Smartphone support was recently introduced by Aircell, the company that runs the Gogo network and it only took a few moments to point the BlackBerry Bold to the Gogo hotspot and log in. I was surprised – but pleased – to find out that I was able to use BlackBerry Messenger from the Bold although I could not place or receive phone calls or send text messages. BlackBerry mail worked as well as did multiple applications I use regularly on the device.

By the time I had interupted multiple people via BlackBerry messenger, the flight attendants were handing out hot towels and tablecloths and starting to serve lunch (I had the herbed shrimp with couscous). During lunch, I reconnected to the Net via the ThinkPad and, using Slingbox, watched CNN and channel surfed. The picture quality was surprising good and audio quality was perfect.

After lunch, I checked in with a few colleagues via Lotus Sametime and read a few e-mail messages.

This is a working flight so I need to prepare a talk I’m giving tomorrow but I will continue this post later.

ON BOARD AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT 15, 16:38 P.M. EDT/13:38 P.M. PDT

We just crossed the border from Nevada to California and I have been able to spend most of my time working, although connectivity was really only “required” sporadically. I did get to finish an important document and e-mail it to where it was needed. Absent Gogo, I could not have done that until we landed. I know the recipient was waiting for it so having connectivity proved very beneficial.

In sum: is it an absolute requirement? Of course not, we’ve gotten along without in-flight Internet access since the Wright brothers. It was fun, however.

–Jonathan B. Spira is the Editor of Executive Road Warrior and Chief Analyst at Basex, a knowledge economy research firm.

Beijing Journal

Ellen Pearlman — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 01:18:40 +0000

Three days before I am to fly to China, I encounter a problem with my ThinkPad. With the help of Lenovo tech support in Atlanta, Georgia I find out that my ThinkPad’s wireless card has gone POOF. The day before I am to leave I receive a replacement card. I call tech support again, and am told to watch the instructional videos on line that show how to remove the 4 screws for the keyboard, 9 screws for the palm rest, and then how to swap out the wireless card, which resembles a memory card. I print the instructions out, and turn my computer over. The Phillips head screwdriver I have doesn’t work on the special screws and, as I am leaving for Beijing in a scant 12 hours, I throw up my hands and decide I will take care of it after landing.

Once in Beijing, having dinner with my hosts, I immediately tell them that I need a Lenovo store in order to have them install the wireless card. The next day, after a flurry of phone calls, three Chinese gentlemen show up at my door. Only one of them speaks English. He takes out his tool kit and according to my memory of IBM’s instructions (which I repeat to him), he takes out the 4 keyboard screws and 9 palm rest screws with his special screwdriver. The keyboard comes off easily, but the palm rest board does not follow suit. He works on it for 25 minutes but it will not budge and neither of us can figure it out. Finally he just gently lifts it up so he does not break the plastic and is then able to swap out the wireless card. He puts it all back but it still refuses to function. He then takes his portable USB drive, goes to a business next door, accesses the Internet, downloads a new driver from the Lenovo site, hooks up his portable drive to my laptop, installs the new driver, and voilà, I am immediately able to access my WLAN connection. Total cost for the two hour on-site English speaking visit? RMB 180, or $23.25. Priceless? Well, almost.

Ellen Pearlman is a contributor to Executive Road Warrior and a senior analyst at Basex.